by Anna Nelson
Fishing season is winding down in many ports, and with boats tied up, attention turns to the other half of the work—what happens off the water. This is the time when policy meetings, comment periods, and agency hearings start filling the calendar. And right now, two major federal comment opportunities are open that deserve the full attention of independent fishermen.
If you want a future where small boats still have a place on the water, where independent hands can make a living without being swallowed by consolidation, then it’s time to speak up.
The Calls for Comment
Two opportunities are open right now:
1. NOAA Fisheries on the Executive Order for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Public comment open until Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Two virtual listening sessions: Thursday, September 25 and Wednesday, October 1 from 4:30–5:30 PM EST
Submit written comments to nmfs.seafoodstrategy@noaa.gov
2. USDA on Department Reorganization
Public comment open until Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Submit comments to reorganization@usda.gov
Details at usda.gov
These may sound like bureaucratic exercises. But the rules written today will shape tomorrow’s docks, processors, and markets. Independent fishermen have every reason to weigh in.
Why NOAA’s Listening Sessions Matter
The Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness sets the stage for how the federal government thinks about fisheries management and industry support. NOAA is asking: how can we improve fisheries science and management to strengthen U.S. seafood?
That is not a narrow question. It covers nearly every challenge fishermen face on the water and onshore. If independent harvesters want to see investments that actually reach their businesses, they need to speak up about what matters most.
Think about your daily challenges:
Infrastructure. Old docks, failing ice machines, not enough cold storage. Without these basics, quality suffers before the fish even leaves the harbor.
Energy. Diesel costs drain earnings, and processing plants face high and inconsistent utility bills. Federal support for reliable, affordable energy could make or break small operations.
Processing capacity. With fewer plants open to small boats, fishermen are stuck with limited markets and lowball prices. Policies that encourage micro-processors or shared community facilities could open new doors.
Adding value. From better onboard handling to specialty product markets, fishermen need help capturing more value from every pound landed.
Training and education. Programs for workforce development in both harvesting and processing could support the next generation. Imagine exchange programs with Iceland or Norway, where fishermen learn firsthand about successful quality systems.
Transportation. Planes, ferries, and trucks are lifelines. Without reliable shipping, even the best-handled fish won’t reach a buyer in time.
These are not abstract points. They are the backbone of whether small, independent fishing families survive the next decade. NOAA’s listening sessions are the time to make that case.
Why the USDA Reorganization Should Concern Fishermen
At first glance, USDA’s reorganization might feel like it has little to do with fisheries. After all, this is the agency most people associate with corn, soybeans, or beef. But that is exactly the problem. Fishing has been largely left out of USDA programs that support American farmers and ranchers.
When USDA reorganizes, it has the power to either fix that gap or make it even worse. If independent fishermen don’t submit comments, chances are that seafood won’t even be on the radar.
Why does this matter? Because USDA controls billions in grants, loans, and food purchasing programs. Farmers benefit from these tools every day. Meanwhile, fishermen watch from the sidelines as schools, hospitals, and the military fill their menus with imported fish because domestic seafood isn’t fully integrated into USDA programs.
Imagine if USDA created an Office of Seafood. Imagine if high-quality American fish were prioritized in federal food purchases, the same way U.S. beef is. That kind of change could open steady markets for small boats and strengthen food security for the whole country.
But unless fishermen speak up during this comment period, seafood is likely to stay invisible in USDA’s new structure.
Why Independent Voices Are Essential
Big companies already know how to work the system. They hire lobbyists, attend every hearing, and make sure their priorities are on the record. That’s why policies so often tilt toward consolidation and away from independent harvesters.
But independent fishermen have something more powerful: lived experience. The credibility of hauling gear, fixing engines, and working through sleepless tides. Policymakers may not always understand the difference between a dragger in the Bering Sea and a gillnetter in Bristol Bay, but they do respond when real people share how federal decisions land on their lives.
When an independent fisherman says, “We can’t get ice in our harbor, and that kills our market price,” that is hard to ignore. When a small processor explains, “We could hire more local crew if we had support for training programs,” that carries weight. When dozens of fishing families send in comments with the same themes, it paints a clear picture: this is a group that deserves to be heard.
How to Make Your Voice Count
You don’t need to write a policy paper to comment. A few clear paragraphs about your experience can make a big impact. Here are some tips:
Be specific. Describe the problem you face, whether it’s energy costs, limited processing options, or transportation barriers.
Connect it to the bigger picture. Show how fixing that problem would help not just your boat, but your community and the seafood industry.
Offer practical ideas. Suggest programs, incentives, or support you think would help. Even simple recommendations like “support for small processors” or “fund training for young crew” get noticed.
Sign your name. Comments carry more weight when they come from real people, not anonymous sources.
And don’t underestimate the power of numbers. A hundred short comments from independent fishermen are harder to ignore than one long letter from a trade association.
The Stakes for the Future
Independent fishing families are at a crossroads. Prices are low. Consolidation is rising. Infrastructure is aging. Climate change is shifting stocks and adding uncertainty. Against that backdrop, federal policy decisions matter more than ever.
These open comment periods are not the only path to change, but they are one of the few times when the door is wide open. If independent voices stay quiet, the future will be written by others. And history shows that when only the largest players are heard, small boats get left behind.
But if fishermen speak together, with clarity and conviction, they can shape the policies that determine their future. They can argue for quality over quantity, for fair markets over monopolies, for food security that includes American fish on American plates.
This is not about asking for favors. It’s about demanding recognition of the value that small, independent harvesters bring to our nation’s food system.
A Call to Action
So here’s the ask:
Mark your calendar for NOAA’s listening sessions on September 25 and October 1.
Submit written comments by October 14 to nmfs.seafoodstrategy@noaa.gov.
Send your comments to USDA’s reorganization plan by September 30 to reorganization@usda.gov.
Do it as an individual. Do it as a crew. Do it as a family business. Whatever form it takes, make sure your voice is part of the record.
Because the future of American fishing will not be decided only on the water. It will also be decided in these policy rooms. And if independent fishermen want a future that still has space for small boats, now is the time to be heard.
Anna Nelson is a business and grant writing consultant specializing in commercial fishing businesses. She works with independent fishermen, fishing organizations, and seafood stakeholders to develop strategies for sustainability, market access, and industry resilience. Anna is the curator, editor, and one of the contributing authors to The Quality Line.